ACCRA — Ghana will begin issuing chip-embedded biometric passports starting April 28 as part of efforts to improve passport security and modernize the application process, the country’s foreign affairs minister said Wednesday.
Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the new passports are designed to reduce the influence of middlemen, enhance transparency and strengthen identity protection.
“The Ministry is committed to ensuring a seamless, citizen-focused passport service that is accessible to all Ghanaians and avoids third-party interference,” Ablakwa said.
The move is part of a broader set of reforms introduced this year by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Other measures include 24-hour passport processing, passport delivery by courier, electronic tracking services and a 30% reduction in application fees.
Chip-embedded passports, already in use in several countries store biometric data in a secure microchip to help prevent identity theft and fraud.
Ablakwa said the rollout aligns with the government’s wider agenda of digitalization and public service reform.
“This is an important step in modernizing Ghana’s passport system and improving service delivery to citizens,” Ablakwa said.